SOME ODD NOTES ON YARMOUTH FISHES. 223 



enough, although plentiful during the 1910 autumnal fishing, 

 they invariably corresponded in size with the Herrings ; this 

 was much remarked on by fisher-folk. And now that cranning 

 has superseded "telling" (counting) the Herrings, everything 

 goes into the " swills " promiscuously, and the number of Scads 

 discovered by the gutters when working at the troughs has 

 given rise to much complaint, this fish being worthless, like the 

 small Whitings and broken Herrings also measured in with 

 the bulk. 



The White Goby, which I added to the Norfolk list in 1890, 

 when it was taken numerously, has ever since that year been 

 seldom seen. It is stated by Giinther to be a fish that is born, 

 matures, and dies in one year. 



The Pagets described the Skulpin or Dragonet — local, "Fox- 

 fish" — as very rare ; on the other hand, I find it on occasion 

 abundantly taken by the local shrimpers. 



There existed at one time a decidedly general prejudice 

 against the ugly-headed Wolf-fish, locally known as '* Cat-fish," 

 as food. It was formerly brought into Yarmouth by the deep- 

 sea trawlers, and seldom disposed of, except on the quiet, to fish- 

 fryers, who sold it in savoury- smelling pieces after an experience 

 in boiling fat. Latterly this species has been much in evidence 

 at Norwich, Yarmouth, and elsewhere, filleted, smoked, and 

 dyed to a bright yellow, and sold under the name of " Grimsby 

 Haddock." Some persons profess to esteem this fish, but to me 

 it eats very like coarse Skate. 



The Viviparous Blenny does not nowadays seem nearly so 

 plentiful as it did thirty years ago, when it was captured in 

 some numbers in small trawls on Breydon and at the entrance 

 of the rivers to cut up for bait for eel-lines, and as bait for the 

 " pots," being covered with a very tough skin. It is exceedingly 

 good eating, the flesh when fried being white and firm, and is as 

 palatable as Sole ; the backbone left on the plate is of a rich 

 emerald-green colour. 



In the October of 1890 immense shoals of small Codlings 

 came up Breydon, and were taken on the hook as fast as 

 the lines could be hauled out. One afternoon I filled the bottom 

 of my boat with them. Since then only one or two such 

 incursions have been noted there. I think it likely that they 

 will not face the dirty river ; maybe the piers set them ofi\ for, 



